KSU at TAMU 1-9-08

[Jimi]

12-7 KSU at 12:59 first half.

Gipson has five.

[carolann]

17-7 KSU at about the 11 minutes mark!

[Jimi]

21-13 KSU at the 8:08 mark

aTm has 7 TOs, KSU 4

[Jimi]

So far the Cats are handling the Aggie pressure and physicality well.

Ashley Sweat has 2 fouls and is sitting

[Jimi]

8 in a row from Starks including two threes and just like that atm has closed to 29-25 KSU around 4 minutes left.

KSU has had back to back turnovers.

Sweat is back in.

[wildcatfan]

KSU up 38 - 29 at the half.

[Jimi]

Texas A&M tied it up at 29 all. Then Ashley Sweat hit a three and backed it up with an old fashioned 3 point play next time down the floor. Then Shalin Spani hit a three and we are 38-29 KSU at the half.

Sweat and Gipson both have 10

[wildcatfan]

I like how Sweat and Gipson are looking more assertive.

[Jimi]

What is happening in this game is that KSU has hit a lot of back door cuts. Gary Blair has gone to zone and it helped for a while but K-State hit some threes and has adjusted. Coach P has kept three ball handling guards on the floor and they have delt well with the Aggie pressure most of the time. KSU appears to be moving the ball well.

This is all through the eyes of Brian Smoller of course.

It can't be argued that Gipson and Sweat are causing the Aggies problems inside.

:KSU:

[wildcatfan]

We're having a lot more trouble this half. A&M now up 39-38 with around 16:00 left.

[Jimi]

You are absolutely right. It TO after TO. I believe 8 or 9 already in this half.

now 38-41 TAMU. KSU had only five TOs at the half.

[Jimi]

45-44 KSU at 11:29

KSU is still turning it over and getting badly out rebounded but they are defending the Aggies well. Gipson and Sweat both have three fouls.

Dietz has 10 points now.

KSU 10 TOs in the second half.

KSU is 3 for 5 in shooting in this half.

[Jimi]

49-46 KSU at 9:49

Gipson picked up her fourth foul and has gone to the bench.

[wildcatfan]

KSU back up by 9 with 7:52 to go.

[Jimi]

55-46 K-state at 7:52

Wheeler just had another nice block.

The Wildcats and Aggies keep punching and counter-punching. This is a hard faught game.
:KSU:

[wildcatfan]

58 - 48 KSU with 5:32 to go.

[Jimi]

58-48 KSU under 6 minutes (5:32)

The struggle continues.

Wheeler just had a completley open break to the basket and scored which is what got Blair to call a time out.

[ChipperF1]

GO CATS GO!!!!!!!!

How about that North Division tonight? :)

[Jimi]

60-48 at 3:47

This is fun wildcatfan!

[Jimi]

60-50 KSU at 2:28

Time out KSU

Gipson back in, Wheeler out.

[Jimi]

64-52 with 41 seconds left. Blair time out.

Now 64-54 KSU at 30 sec.

[wildcatfan]

Well, these girls never cease to amaze me. That's what I get for picking against them in pick 'em. However, on A&M's behalf, they were having an off shooting night. But, we played well and we played with heart.

Jimi - This is way too fun!

Go Cats!

[Jimi]

67-54 KSU final.

WoHOO!!!! I could not be happier for the team.

GO CATS!!!! :KSU:

[carolann]

I did say I thought A&M's difficulty scoring could make them vulnerable. But, I picked A&M in pick'em and I can't say I seriously considered being wrong on that pick.

Congratulataions KSU on opening conference with a road win against a team expected to finish near the top of the conference race.

[Dale8R]

Well, guess who went back and CHANGED his vote on Pick'em? I'm glad to be wrong though . . . really.

Nice win for KSU.

[LadyBuff]

Go North!

[BearLady]

Congrats Purple People! :KSU:

[ChipperF1]

Two ranked South Division teams....DOWNED


Nice job Wildcats!

[catfan28]

Booooyah !!!! :KSU:

[BearLady]

Booooyah !!!! :KSU:


:D :D :D

On a more serious note, K State made a strong statement tonight, even much more than the final scoreboard shows. Way to hang together, ladies!

[JK]

:D :D :D

On a more serious note, K State made a strong statement tonight, even much more than the final scoreboard shows. Way to hang together, ladies!

Yep, sometimes teams play better and more focused in the face of adversity. In spite of what I think of some of Paterson's philosophies I also credit her (and have many times previously) as a great strategist.

Congrats to the KSU ladies for hanging tough!

[buff190]

CONGRATS WILDCATS!
AND GO NORTH!!!

A bit of a surprise but a good one.

[wildcatwomen]

Am I the only one who was crazy enough to pick our Wildcats? Even if I did it out of complete loyalty, I'm glad I did! I'm really proud of how our girls kept their heads in this game. I'm sure A&M wasn't playing their best ball, but we will take the win!

[Row6Seat10]

Good win for the K-State. If I remember right the Cats started out last season with a win over A&M.

[wildcatfan]

Am I the only one who was crazy enough to pick our Wildcats? Even if I did it out of complete loyalty, I'm glad I did! I'm really proud of how our girls kept their heads in this game. I'm sure A&M wasn't playing their best ball, but we will take the win!

I think you were. I was hoping they would make me eat crow and they did!

[JK]

I'm sure A&M wasn't playing their best ball, but we will take the win!

The best team doesn't always win. However, the team that plays the best for a forty-minute block of time usually does. Congrats again!

[Scamp]

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Kansas State players were laughing during pregame introductions when Texas A&M coach Gary Blair appeared on the Reed Arena video board and exclaimed, "The champs are here!"

The champs are now 0-1. ...

"I think we dug ourselves a hole, because four out of our next five are on the road," Blair said. ...

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/topstories/stories/011008dnspoamwomen.2820812.htmlWell done, Wildcats!

[36Cord810]

I am a Baylor grad who just drove down to watch a game of contrasting styles. It was a chess match and one I enjoyed at great deal. If you look at the box score you will see what was so obvious in person. KSU's passing was incredible. They had an assist for about every three points on the board. A bow to A&M pressure. It was forty minutes of hell, but a hell that the Wildcats ultimately withstood. A&M made three strong runs, even got the lead, but KSU did not wilt, Deb made solid adjustments and the kids played their roles.

Dietz had a super game and made several pressure baskets, Gipson was a force at both ends and played with joy and enthusiasm that we so rarely see in modern athletics and Lehning is often beyond words. She had an off night from the field, 2-8, but here is a PG who had 10 rebounds, 8 assists and only 2 turnovers against the great Aggie pressure. Coach Blair was blown away by Shalee's play, and so was I. To give you an example, in the second half I watched Lehning contest a shot ten feet from the basket, then fight for the rebound of that shot on the other side of the basket, knock the ball out of an Aggie's hands, then dive forward another ten feet to tap it to a teammate. A second later she was up and beat almost everyone else up the floor. She plays this way all the time and never comes off the floor. She is worth the price of admission!

Anyway, a fun game and glad I drove the two hours to watch it!

[Jimi]

Lehning is often beyond words. She had an off night from the field, 2-8, but here is a PG who had 10 rebounds, 8 assists and only 2 turnovers against the great Aggie pressure. Coach Blair was blown away by Shalee's play, and so was I. To give you an example, in the second half I watched Lehning contest a shot ten feet from the basket, then fight for the rebound of that shot on the other side of the basket, knock the ball out of an Aggie's hands, then dive forward another ten feet to tap it to a teammate. A second later she was up and beat almost everyone else up the floor. She plays this way all the time and never comes off the floor. She is worth the price of admission!

Anyway, a fun game and glad I drove the two hours to watch it!
Thanks a lot for your in person game report. I love watching Shalee and the rest of the Cats.